Well, honestly, I'm not a fan of making a couple of big trades either. I think they need to get a defensemen with good mobility and pucks skills in the transitional game and see where it goes from there.

I think adding a guy like Byfuglien would make them a better team in the short term, and provide a bit of a bridge to the future, to develop the kids. With a guy like Byfuglien or Yandle-someone that can play 25 minutes a night and be good in transition-the offense would be better and maybe lessen the need for a sniper.
- Jsaquella

I completely agree with your assessment on the defense situation. But I also believe that Giroux needs a real threat on his wing that can draw coverage off him like Jagr did. It will make both players better, like Perry and Getzlaf.

Right now teams are just taking away Giroux space and passing lanes... Give him a player like Yakupov and if they aren't checking Yakupov tight, he will light them up... and if they do checck him tight, it will give Giroux the room to work his magic.

I just see a pressing need that won't get filled from within in the next season or so, and I see a kid like Laughton likely being stuck on the 4th line.
- Jsaquella

I'd rather them go into next season with glaring holes, but with a coherent long-term plan, than have the focus be on giving this Frankenstein another good jolt to try to bring it to life. Like we've all agreed, there are no easy solutions to the blueline problem, and the kids are still progressing... so what's the harm in taking some time with this, to look for optimal/affordable solutions, and not just the first, most obvious or expedient option?

He played in the NHL last season and scored at a 30 goal pace.
- Jsaquella

Carter and Richards were very good players and clearly not worth the headache as well.

I'd rather them go into next season with glaring holes, but with a coherent long-term plan, than have the focus be on giving this Frankenstein another good jolt to try to bring it to life. Like we've all agreed, there are no easy solutions to the blueline problem, and the kids are still progressing... so what's the harm in taking some time with this, to look for optimal/affordable solutions, and not just the first the most obvious or expedient option?
- Tomahawk

There isn't any. But at the same time, if you can swing a trade that will improve your long term, as well as short term possibilities, I'd make it.

That's the thing, we have the Frankenstein monster, but as ugly as it can look, it's not as bad as people were saying prior to last week.

There has to be a better plan in place, even if it just means optimizing assets, rather than making knee jerk trades because the old coach didn't like a guy in a role.

I'd rather them go into next season with glaring holes, but with a coherent long-term plan, than have the focus be on giving this Frankenstein another good jolt to try to bring it to life. Like we've all agreed, there are no easy solutions to the blueline problem, and the kids are still progressing... so what's the harm in taking some time with this, to look for optimal/affordable solutions, and not just the first, most obvious or expedient option?
- Tomahawk

so.... wait for the situation to get worse before trying to fix it.

Carter and Richards were very good players and clearly not worth the headache as well.
- Schenn2shine

They were worth the headache for the Kings. Amazing how the headaches went away after a Stanley Cup.

Meanwhile, we still have the same issues in Philly-the press banging the captain, the team lacking cohesion, inconsistent 60 minute efforts....yeah, Carter and Richards were the problem

There isn't any. But at the same time, if you can swing a trade that will improve your long term, as well as short term possibilities, I'd make it.

That's the thing, we have the Frankenstein monster, but as ugly as it can look, it's not as bad as people were saying prior to last week.

There has to be a better plan in place, even if it just means optimizing assets, rather than making knee jerk trades because the old coach didn't like a guy in a role.
- Jsaquella

I cant believe I'm agreeing with you so much today. And even further to that point, I dont think we should give away a guy the current coach has an issue with "Schenn".

how is yakupov going to create space?
- 2Real

Clearly he would never create space for anyone. They would ignore him on the ice at all times.

I'd rather them go into next season with glaring holes, but with a coherent long-term plan, than have the focus be on giving this Frankenstein another good jolt to try to bring it to life. Like we've all agreed, there are no easy solutions to the blueline problem, and the kids are still progressing... so what's the harm in taking some time with this, to look for optimal/affordable solutions, and not just the first, most obvious or expedient option?
- Tomahawk

I like this approach because it sets the team up for more sustainable success.

Totally agree... listing them was just to illustrate the quantity/quality of young players that Homer has made a routine habit of shipping out of town.

I hope Homer can keep hanging on to the Schenns, Coots, Simmonds, Voracek, Laughton, etc and just ride out the developmental road bumps. But history shows that most, if not none, of them will be Flyers in a few years time.
- Tomahawk

Yeah, I'm kind of surprised he hasn't already traded off some of that youth...I mean, the state of the team at times has certainly been such where the desperation and urgency levels would have likely prompted such moves in the past...it's encouraging to see Homer (and Ed for that matter) being patient in this aspect thus far this go round. I agree with being patient and letting the kids develop and learn how to win together, and with Homer playing along so far, I'm ok with keeping him around too.

Put him on a line with Giroux and watch him score 50 goals, and open enough space on the ice for Giroux to score 30.....
- youarewrong

Zherdov was clearly a skilled player but also wasn't worth the headache.

I'm sure the Flyers want every dominant player they can get but not if they're gonna be spain in the butt.

I cant believe I'm agreeing with you so much today. And even further to that point, I dont think we should give away a guy the current coach has an issue with "Schenn".
- youarewrong

I don't think that a team should ever give any asset away.

I agree largely with Bradleyc4. There's no reason you can't make tweaks for now, while continuing to build for the future.

They were worth the headache for the Kings. Amazing how the headaches went away after a Stanley Cup.

Meanwhile, we still have the same issues in Philly-the press banging the captain, the team lacking cohesion, inconsistent 60 minute efforts....yeah, Carter and Richards were the problem
- Jsaquella

I don't know what you're trying to say here. Should we have kept Richards and Carter?

so.... wait for the situation to get worse before trying to fix it.
- youarewrong

It doesn't necessarily have to be worse... Anaheim traded Bobby Ryan away and they've been basically sitting on their hands waiting for their huge group of quality prospects to crack the lineup... now they're one of the best teams in the league... without chasing a Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, or Ilya Bryzgalov... and they've still got A+ guys like Vatanen, Gibson and Silfverberg on the way.

There's a big difference in refusing to ride out the developmental road bumps and moving a player to fill a need.

Even if those guys all stay and develop, the team will still have needs to fill.
- Jsaquella

Yep...if the right (fair) deal comes along that addresses a need, by all means, do it...so long as it's not young talent for a 30+ player that may be diminishing returns...unless, perhaps, it's that final piece that pushes them over the top.

I don't know what you're trying to say here. Should we have kept Richards and Carter?
- Schenn2shine

The trades of Richards and Carter were the biggest instances of the Flyers lacking a long term plan. I like that they got value for the pair, and I'm not saying that they were bad trades, in and of themselves.

But when you trade a guy in the second year of a 12 year deal, and two other guys before long term extensions signed less than a year before kicked in, it shows that you don't have a good plan, or that you're very impatient.

The trades of Richards and Carter were the biggest instances of the Flyers lacking a long term plan. I like that they got value for the pair, and I'm not saying that they were bad trades, in and of themselves.

But when you trade a guy in the second year of a 12 year deal, and two other guys before long term extensions signed less than a year before kicked in, it shows that you don't have a good plan, or that you're very impatient.
- Jsaquella

Tbh, I'd rather have a GM who is willing to change the plan when it doesn't work than a GM who is going to stick with something even though it isn't working.

If that trade wasn't made, I feel their value would be far less now than before. I also don't think the team would truly be a cup contender with them.

I think the mistake Homer has made is signing guys at the wrong times for too long. He always signs guys after great seasons. They are very scared of a player hitting FA.

Zherdov was clearly a skilled player but also wasn't worth the headache.

I'm sure the Flyers want every dominant player they can get but not if they're gonna be spain in the butt.
- Schenn2shine

Zherdev had a poopty attitude, but he had more points per icetime then Giroux playing on a line with Shelly. I would be pissed too. If I remember correctly if you gave him the same ice time Giroux had, even with the line mates he had, we would have scored 40 goals...

But I dont think Yakupov is anything like Zherdev. SUre he was pissed at being sat... I would want any NHL player to be pissed. Kimmo was pissed at being taken off top PP and was vocal about it... People just make a big deal because he is Russian.

It doesn't necessarily have to be worse... Anaheim traded Bobby Ryan away and they've been basically sitting on their hands waiting for their huge group of quality prospects to crack the lineup... now they're one of the best teams in the league... without chasing a Ryan Suter, Zach Parise, or Ilya Bryzgalov... and they've still got A+ guys like Vatanen, Gibson and Silfverberg on the way.
- Tomahawk

But at the same time if they moved Ryan to us 2 years ago they would likely have had JVR, Read, and a pick...

Zherdev had a poopty attitude, but he had more points per icetime then Giroux playing on a line with Shelly. I would be pissed too. If I remember correctly if you gave him the same ice time Giroux had, even with the line mates he had, we would have scored 40 goals...

But I dont think Yakupov is anything like Zherdev. SUre he was pissed at being sat... I would want any NHL player to be pissed. Kimmo was pissed at being taken off top PP and was vocal about it... People just make a big deal because he is Russian.
- youarewrong[/quote]

Also an age difference. Kimmo has been around long enough to be allowed to voice his opinion. When a young guy gets benched, he's supposed to shut up and work harder. Luke Schenn didn't throw a temper tantrum.

The trades of Richards and Carter were the biggest instances of the Flyers lacking a long term plan. I like that they got value for the pair, and I'm not saying that they were bad trades, in and of themselves.

But when you trade a guy in the second year of a 12 year deal, and two other guys before long term extensions signed less than a year before kicked in, it shows that you don't have a good plan, or that you're very impatient.
- Jsaquella

The Flyers were Richards and Carter's team. The Kings aren't. Dustin Brown is the Captain of that team, not Mike Richards. Kopitar is their number one center, not Jeff Carter. I'm not down playing the type of players Carter and Richards are, they're very good players but they're not the go to guys. They're simply apart of the team, not the focus of it. I wouldn't underestimate what Johnathan Quick was able to do for them, a clear cut number one goalie or what Drew Doughty can do, a clear cut number one defenseman. The Kings are simply a better team. As LA Kings the pressure is off them as well. They might not get recognized as much walking down the street.

So... Is should we go out and get Niles Yakupov? Is that the point, because I don't see him being the reason we instantly turn things around.

This year, yes. Didn't meant this year. Seravalli, I need to be more specific for this audience.
- Flyskippy

Take out Meszaros, Gill and Kimmo and Lauridsen's still probably an AHL player who only gets called up if Grossmann's hurt.

Byfuglien
Coburn
Streit
Grossmann
Gustafsson
Alt

http://www.broadstreethoc...rospect-in-college-hockey

Kings have a Cup... Leafs and Ducks are franchises fully on the rise, and the Jackets are improving
- Tomahawk

Are they?

The Flyers were Richards and Carter's team. The Kings aren't. Dustin Brown is the Captain of that team, not Mike Richards. Kopitar is their number one center, not Jeff Carter. I'm not down playing the type of players Carter and Richards are, they're very good players but they're not the go to guys. They're simply apart of the team, not the focus of it. I wouldn't underestimate what Johnathan Quick was able to do for them, a clear cut number one goalie or what Drew Doughty can do, a clear cut number one defenseman. The Kings are simply a better team. As LA Kings the pressure is off them as well. They might not get recognized as much walking down the street.

So... Is should we go out and get Niles Yakupov? Is that the point, because I don't see him being the reason we instantly turn things around.
- Schenn2shine

The point for getting Yakupov IMO is to have someone that will open up space for Giroux like Jagr did. No other player on this team can do that. There are 2 other players that might be able to do this too, however they are older, possible UFA's, and expensive... and might be a little cheaper, but not for the long term value IMO... Gaborik or Heatley. Now I believe Defense has to be addressed first. But they really do need to get someone to play with Giroux. I think Yakupov ould be the perfect long term solution, but they can always just scrap this year and try and sign Gaborik and Phaneuf in UFA... if they make it....